Safety bazoe



May 24, V1938. E. wlLsoN Re. 20,741

' SAFETY RAZOR original Filedmarch 11., 193s uuntluDuuumU/u By i named' May 24, 193s UNITI-:DA STATES PATENT, OFFICE Original No. 2,021,344, dated November 19. 1935. Serial No. 660,334, March 11, 1933. Application for reissue November 9. 1937, Serial No. 173,725

16 Claims.

My invention relates to safety razors and has particular reference to safety razors of the type employing a blade which is reciprocated to produce a cutting motion of the blade upon the beard.'

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a safety razor having a novel and simple means for vibrating the` razor or vibrating the blade therein in thedirection of its cutting edge thereby facilitating a shaving, reducing the force l or pull upon the skin and hair or whiskers and increasing the life of the cuttingedge of the blade.

,Another object of the invention is to provide a safety razor in which the blade is vibrated or reciprocated by means set in motion manually which means is accessible at all times and which does not interfere with the normal use of the razor. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a means of this class whereby extreme high rates of vibration or reciprocation of the blade may be obtained.'

Another object of the invention is to provide a means of this class whereby the relatively high rate of vibration or reciprocation of the blade may be maintained over a continued period of time required for one shave.

Another object of the invention is'to provide a razor oi' this class from which the blade may be removed and another substituted as quickly and' easily as in the safety razors now in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a razor of this class in which the several operating parts are so arranged as not to interfere with the ready gripping of the razor and the manipulation thereof during the shaving operation. f

Another object of the invention is to provide a razor of this class which is economical of construction, durable, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

Another object is the provision of a razor having a blade reciprocably mounted upon the head and arranged to be reclprocated by means of a rotatable stem passing through the handle of the razor, a portion of which is cut away'to expose the shaft or stem so that it may be engaged by a suitable device for imparting rotary movement thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a I safety razor of the type described in the preceding paragraphs, in which the number of 'parts employed in constructing the razor is`reduced1to the minimum, there being required only a handle, a blade, a guard and a shaft to produce the razor in accordance with my invention.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a study of the following specifications, read in connection with the accompanying drawing,

wherein (Cl. 3ft-44),

Figure 1 is a rear, elevational view of a razor constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional view taken along line iI-II of Fig. 1; and` y Figure 3 is a detail, sectional view 'taken along line III--III of Fig. 2. 4

Referring to' 'the drawing, I have illustrated my razor Vas comprising a handle I which is preferably .of tubular construction, having a central bore 2 extending longitudinally thereof, the handle being formed with a guard-plate 3 upon the upper end thereof, which may be formed integrally with the handle l or may be formed as a separate piece and attached thereto as de' sired. 1

A suitable guard 4 ispreiferably pivoted, as indicated at 5, at one side of the guard-plate 3, the

, opposite end i of the guard being arranged to a recess 'l extending longitudinally of the Aplate to form the upper surface of the guard-plate with a pair of bearing surfaces 8 and 9 near the upper and'lower edges of the plate, the bearing surfaces constituting a bearing support`for a blade l0 permitting the blade to be reciprocated longitudinally of the plate 3; that is, along the line at right angles to the axis of the handle I. 'I'he lower side edge of the guard-plate 3 is preferably provided with a series of recesses formed therein, as indicated at Il, to constitute a serrated guard.

By referring particularly to Figure 3, it will be observed that the guard-plate 3 is provided with a pair of upstanding posts I2 and I3 near the ends of the plate to engage suitable elongated slots il formed in opposite ends of the blade I0, which slots constitute a guide for the blade and assist in supporting the blade and holding the same in place while it is reciprocated.

The hollow handle is illustrated as constituting the housing r:for a spindle or shaft I5 extending through the longitudinal bore 2, the upper end of the bore being reduced as at I6 to receive a bushing bearing I1 therein constituting the bearing for the upper end I8 of the spindle or shaft I5. The lower end of the spindle or shaft I5 is illustrated as'being formed with a pin bearing I9 engageablein a suitable pin bearing seat- 20 Re. l20,741

formed upon or secured to a closure plate i2| constituting the closure plate for the lower end of y the handle I. l

It will be observed that the lower end of the handle I is flared outwardly, as indicated at 22, to form a chamber 23 surrounding a iiywheei 24 rigidly secured to the spindle l5. 'I'he iiywheel is preferably formed of any suitable material having suitable mass and is preferably formed with the "greater-'portion of the mass thereof arranged near the periphery of the ywheel so that the moment of inertia of the flywheel is relativeLv great as compared to the actual mass of thetotal flywheel. t

Intermediate the upper and lower ends of the shaft l5, I provide a knurled surface 2B thereon. the knurled surface being preferably of larger diameter than the diameter of the shaft, although this is not essential, the important feature being that the knurled surface should be of sufllcient dimensions to be readily engaged by any friction device so that rotary motion may be imparted to the shaft, I5.

It will be observed from an inspection of Figures 1 and 2 that the handle I, adJacent the knurled portion of the shaft I5 is cut away, as indicated at 2G, to form a recess through which the knurled surface is exposed and the recess' 26 is preferably of such extent as to expose a considerable area of the knurled surface 25 to engagement by an instrument which may be inserted through the recess. For example, I prefer that the arrangement be suchy that a cord, rope. strip of rubber, or v`other suitable friction material.

` cord a number of times with the strop engaging the knurled portion of the shaft through the recess 26, a rapid rotary` movement may be imparted to the shaft, which movement, I have found in practice, to be suillcient to cause the inertia of the flywheel tolkeep the shaft rotating for a relatively long period of time, from 5 to 10 minutes.

The upper end ofthe shaft I5 is `provid-ed with.

any suitable means for connecting the same with the razor blade lll so that rotary motion of the shaft l5 will impart a reciprocating motion to I t the blade. I prefer that this connection be made merely by forming an eccentric end 21 upon the upper end of the shaft IE so that the eccentric 21 engages an elongated slot 28 near the center of the blade. Thusv rotation of the shaft about its axis will cause the eccentric V21 to move the blade to the right and to the left, as viewed in Figure 3. Thus the rotary motion of.the blade, which con`- tinues as herelnbefore stated for a period of from 5 to 10 minutes,wi1l impart a reciprocating motion of like duration to the blade and it is found in practice that such motion, enduring for this length of time, usually is sumcient for one complete shave, though in the event that the dura# tion of the movement is'not sumcient, additional movement may be imparted to the blade merely by drawing the razorv gain over the cord or strop employed to rotate t shaft.

It will be observed that the pin bearing 19, at the lower end of the shaft, constitutes a Vbearing of relatively low friction, while the upper end of the shaft is supported inthe bearing bushing Il which may be`,`. and preferably is, provided with beveled upper and lower surfaces, as indicated at 29, so that a relatively small areaof contact'is provided between this bushing and the bearing portion of the shaft. Thus relatively slight fric' tion occurs between the upper end of the shaft audits bearing. Y'

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to any of the details of construction. shown herein, except as'dened in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a razor construction, a handle having a tubular bore extending longitudinally there-l y to the axis of said bore, means for reciprocating' said blade-including a shaft extending through said bore and connected to said blade, a recess in said handle extending partially around said bore and communicating with said bore to expose a.l portion of said shaft, friction means on said shaft at said exposed portion for engagement by a friction device to apply rotary movement tosaid shaft, and a flywheel on said shaft.

2. In a safety razor.' a handle having a bore extending longitudinally thereof, a recess through the side of said handle communicating with the interior bore thereof, a head formed upon one end of said handle, a blade r'eciprocably mounted upon said head for movement in a direction at right angles to the axis of said bore, a shaft ex" tending coaxially through said bore, means cou- Pling said shaft to said blade for reciprocating said blade by rotation of said shaft, friction means on said shaft aligned with said recess whereby said friction means may be engaged by a friction device exteriorly of said handle to impart rotary movement to `saidshaft and a flywheel on said shaft.

3. In a .safety razor, a handle having a bore extending longitudinally thereof, a recess through the side of said handle communicating with the interior bore thereof, a head formed upon one end of said handle, a blade reciprocably mounted upon said head for movement in a direction at right angles to the axis of said bore, a shaft extending coaxially through said bore, means coupling said shaft to said blade for reciprocating said blade by rotation of said shaft, a portion of said shaft being exposed through said recess for engagement with a friction strop to impart rotary movement to said shaft.' means on said shaft at said exposed portion for frictionally engaifng said ,friction means and a ywheel on said sh v 4. In a safety razor, a handle member having a tubular bore extending longitudinally therethrough, arazor blade supporting headcformed upon one end of said handle member, a blade reciprocally mounted upon said head for movement in a direction at right angles to the axis of said bore, means for reciprocating said blade including a shaft extending through said bore and connected to said blade, a recess in said handle member extending partially around said bore and communicating'with said bore to expose a portion of said shaft for engagement by a friction device to apply rotary motion to said shaft. an

enlargement of said handle member at theend -said head in engagement with said blade, means i coupling' said blaue "to ma han :or nemmening said blade by rotation of said shaft, a recess in said hollow handle member extending partially around said shaft to expose 'a portion of said shaft for engagement. by afriction device for imparting rotary movement to said shaft.

6. In a safety razor, a frame comprising, a`

head anda hollow handle member extending from one side of the head, a blade reciprocally mounted on said head, a shaft rotatably mounted in the handle member, means eccentrically connecting said shaft with the blade for reciprocating the latter with the rotation of the shaft, a y wheel mounted on the shaft, said shaft having a portion exposed through said handle member for engagement b y a-friction device for imparting rotary movement to said shaft.

7. In a safety razor, a frame comprising, a hollow handle having a head positioned transversely at one end thereof and provided at its opposite end with an enlarged casing portion, a shaft rotatably mounted within the hollow handle, a blade reciprocally mounted` on the head, eccentric means connecting the shaftwlth the blade, a fly wheel mounted on the shaft andpositioned within the casing portion, there being provided at the outer side of the fly wheel and coaxial with the shaft a bearing portion, and a cap secured to the outer side of the casing portion and provided with means cooperating with the bearing portion for centering the extended end of the shaft.

8. In a safety razor,'a head, a blade reciprocally mounted on said head, a hollow handle member extending from said head, a shaft having a ily wheel thereon and the whole 'rotatably mounted within said hollow handle, means coupling said blade to said shaft for reciprocating said blade by rotation of said shaft, and means in connection with said shaft to facilitate the manual rotation of said shaft.

9. In a safety razor, a head, a blade reciprocall 1y mounted on said head, a handle extending from said* head and having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough communicating with said head, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bore and in said handle, and means in connection with said shaft to facilitate the manual rotation of said shaft.

l0. In a safety razor, a head, a blade reciprocally mounted on said head, a hollow vhandle extending from said head, a shaft having a fly wheel thereon and the whole rotatably mounted within said hollow handle, means coupling said blade to said shaft for reciprocating said blade by rotation of said shaft, and means in connection with said shaft for engagement with manual rotating means through an opening in the side of said handle and operable by the application of force in a direction at right angles to the axis of said shaft. y

l1. In a safety razor, a head, a cutting element reciprocally mounted in said head, a hollow handle member extending from said head, a shaft having a ily wheel thereon vand the whole rotatably mounted within said ,hollow handle, means coupling said cutting element to said shaft for hollow handle member reciprocating said cutting element by rotation of said shaft. and means in` connection with said shaft' to facilitate the manual rotation of said shaft.

l2. In a safety razor, a head, a cutting element reciprocally mounted in said head, a hollow handle member extending from said head. a shaft having a fly wheel thereon rotatably mounted within said hollow handle member and extending through said head'in engagement 'with said cutting element, means coupling said cutting element to said` shaft for reciprocating said cutting element by rotation of said shaft,l a recess in said extending partially around said shaft to expose a portion of said shaft for engagement by afriction device for imparting rotary movement to said shaft.

13. In a safety razor, a head, a cutting element reciprocally mounted in said head, a hollow handle member extending from said head, a shaft having a ily wheel thereon rotatably mounted within said hollow handle member and extending through said head in engagement with said cutting element, means coupling said cutting element to said shaft for reciprocating said cutting element by rotation of said shaft, a recess in saidhollow handle member extending partially around said shaft to expose a portion of said shaft for engagement by a friction device for imparting rotary movement to said shaft, said cutting element operating in a plane which is at an angle to the axis of the shaft.

14. In a razor constructiona handle having a tubular bore extendingV longitudinally therethrough, a head formed upon one end of said handle, a cutting element reciprocally mounted in said head for movement in a direction at right angles to the axis of said bore, means for reciprocating said'cutting element including a. shaft extending through said bore and connected to said cutting element, a recess in said handle extending partially around said bore and communicating with said bore to expose a portion of said shaft, friction means on said shaft at said exposed portion for engagement by a friction device to apply rotary movement to said shaft, and a fly wheel on said shaft.

15. In a safety razor, a head, a cutting element reciprocally mounted in said head, a hollowhandle member extending from said head, a shaft having a, fly wheel thereon and the whole rotat-V ably mounted within'said hollow handle, means coupling said cutting element to said shaft for reciprocating said cutting element by rotation of said shaft, means in connection with said shaft to facilitate the manual rotation of said shaft, said cutting element operating in a plane which is at an angle to the axis of the shaft.

16. In a safety razor, a head, a cutting element reciprocally mounted in said head, a hollow handle member'extending from said head provided with a bearing adjacent said head, a shaft having a ily wheel thereon. and the whole rotatably mount-ed within said hollow handle, means v coupling said cutting element to said shaft for reciprocating said cutting element by rotation of said shaft, said shaftI having a portion exposed through said handle member adjacent to said bearing for engagement by a friction device for imparting rotary movement to saidshaft.

Emm'rr WILSON. 

